Waking up in the cozy inn of Oakenshield felt like emerging from one dream into another, a slightly more absurd one. The sun streamed in through the window, casting playful shadows on the wooden floor, and I stretched lazily, still half-entangled in the remnants of sleep.
As I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, the familiar glow of a system prompt flickered to life in front of me, its message blinking with an urgency that seemed at odds with the lazy morning:
New Quest Alert! 🌟
Objective: Jump. That's it. Just jump.
Reward: ???
I blinked. "Jump? Seriously?" I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity. "What's next, a quest to tie my shoelaces?" Shaking my head, I stood up and, with a dramatic sigh for an audience of none, I jumped. The floorboards creaked in protest, the inn probably questioning my sanity as much as I was.
No sooner had my feet touched the ground again than the prompt reappeared:
{Quest Complete! 🎉
Congratulations, you've successfully jumped. Yes, that's really all it took.
Reward: Disguise Skill}
I stared at the message, a laugh bubbling up from deep within. "Well, I always did want to add 'Professional Jumper' to my resume," I mused, scrolling through to see the details of my oh-so-hard-earned skill:
Disguise Skill Acquired:
This skill allows you to disguise your true class presenting yourself as a mundane swordsman to those who use appraisal skills or require status information. Ideal for sneaky entrances or avoiding unwanted attention.
"Handy," I admitted, imagining the possibilities. With a smirk, I checked my updated status:
Class: Fortuna Ciphra (Mythical)
Level: 6
Health: 1200/1200 (120/min)
Mana: 790/790 (79/min)
Experience (EXP): 50/700
**Stats**
- Vit: 120
- Str: 101
- Agi: 98
- Int: 79
- Luck: ∞
- F.I: 25
**Skills**
- Class Skills:
Fatesiphon - LV MAX
Destiny Blade - LV MAX
Luck's Gaze - LV MAX
- General Skills:
Speed Surge - LV1
Dark Bolt - LV1
Disguise - LV MAX
**Items**
- Dominus Sortis (Soulbond)}
Strolling through the bustling streets of Oakenshield towards the Adventurer's Guild, I couldn't help but soak in the vibrant energy of the town. It was as if the whole place was buzzing with the same mix of amusement and anticipation that was bubbling up inside me.
Passing by a bakery, the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries wafted out, and I found myself doing a double-take. "Should've grabbed breakfast," I mumbled, my stomach voicing its agreement with a well-timed grumble. I made a mental note to treat myself to some of those pastries later - a reward for whatever heroics the guild had in store for me.
Further down, a group of kids were playing a game that seemed to involve a lot of running and even more laughing. One of them, a particularly enthusiastic little warrior, brandished a stick as if it were a mighty sword, challenging his friends to duels. "Future Adventurer's Guild material right there," I chuckled, giving them a thumbs-up as I passed. They responded with cheers and waves, the makeshift swordsman puffing up with pride.
As I neared the guild, the diversity of the town's inhabitants became even more apparent. A duo of dwarves, deep in conversation about the best pickaxe materials, nearly collided with a tall, aloof elf who was too engrossed in a book to notice. The elf's subsequent huff of indignation and the dwarves' grumbled apologies formed a comedic symphony that had me grinning from ear to ear.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
And there it was, the Adventurer's Guild, standing tall and proud amidst the lively chaos of Oakenshield. Its grand facade was more than just architecture; it was a promise of untold stories, of dangers braved and fortunes made. I couldn't help but puff out my chest a bit as I approached. "Alex the Adventurer," I announced to no one in particular, "has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
Stepping inside, the cool interior of the guild was a stark contrast to the warmth of the morning sun. The buzz of activity didn't lessen, though; if anything, it intensified. A group of adventurers to my left were heatedly discussing their latest quest, while a solitary mage in the corner poured over maps and scrolls, her concentration palpable.
And there, at the heart of it all, was the reception desk, manned—well, womanned—by Elara, whose efficiency seemed like a calm eye in the storm of activity that was the Adventurer's Guild. Her name tag glinted as I approached, and I couldn't help but wonder if 'Elara' meant 'serenity amidst chaos' in some ancient language. It would be fitting.
Deciding to put my newly acquired Disguise Skill to the test, I appraised her, curious not just about her level but about how well my skill would hold up under the scrutiny of someone so adept at handling adventurers of all calibers.
As I awaited the reveal, I couldn't help but think, "Here goes nothing. Or everything. With my luck, who can really say?"
Name: Elara
Class: Administrative Adept
Level: 50
**Skills**
- Organizational Insight: Enhances the ability to manage and prioritize tasks efficiently.
- Calm Under Pressure: Maintains composure in stressful situations, ensuring optimal decision-making.
- Expert Negotiator: Skilled in negotiation, ensuring the best outcomes for the guild and its members.
"Wow, level 50 in paperwork. Impressive," I quipped silently, giving Elara a mental nod of respect for her organizational prowess that probably rivalled that of an ancient librarian or a dragon hoarding gold. It's not every day you meet someone who can file documents with the same intensity as a warrior who brandishes their sword.
Elara, with a professional grace that clearly indicated she had dealt with far too many adventurers thinking they were the next big thing, met my enthusiasm with a smile that was equal parts welcoming and 'I've heard this a thousand times before'. "Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. How may I assist you today?" she asked, her tone suggesting she was ready for anything from signing up a new member to dealing with a rogue goblin in the filing cabinets.
"I'd like to join," I declared, trying to sound as heroic as possible. In my head, trumpets blared and crowds cheered, but I'm pretty sure all Elara saw was a wide-eyed newbie with more enthusiasm than sense.
The ranking system Elara laid out was like a game within a game - Bronze to Ruby [ Level 1-50 is Bronze, 51-150 is Silver,151-300 is Gold, 301- 700 is Platinum, and 701-1000 is Ruby], a ladder of adventure and glory that had my inner child doing somersaults. "Ruby, huh?" I mused silently as she explained. "Sounds shiny. I like shiny." In my mind, I was already picturing myself with a fancy Ruby badge, casually dropping into conversations like it was no big deal. "Oh, this old thing? Just my Ruby Adventure badge. I guess you could say I'm kind of a big deal."
After what felt like signing enough forms to wallpaper my room back at the inn, Elara handed over my Bronze badge. It might as well have been Excalibur for all the excitement bubbling up inside me. "Welcome to the guild, Alex. Your first quest awaits," she announced, sliding a slip of paper across the desk.
I snatched up the paper like it was a treasure map. My first quest! Visions of epic battles and daring rescues danced in my head. But the reality was a bit more... grounded.
New Quest: Herb Gathering
Objective: Gather 10 bundles of Moonshade Herbs from the Verdant Woods.
Rewards: 5 bronze per bundle
"Herb gathering, eh?" I said, trying to mask my disappointment. "Because every epic tale starts with a good salad."
Elara's eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement. "Every adventurer starts somewhere, Alex. Even the greatest heroes had to learn which end of the sword was which."
Nodding, I tucked the quest slip into my pocket. "Right, you are, Elara. Today, Moonshade Herbs. Tomorrow, who knows? Maybe saving princesses or slaying dragons. Or at the very least, making a really impressive stew."
With a spring in my step and visions of future glory (and potentially stew) in my mind, I exited the guild, ready to tackle my very first quest. The Verdant Woods awaited, and with it, the first step of my journey to becoming a Ruby-ranked adventurer.
As I set off towards the woods, I couldn't help but wonder what other 'exciting' quests awaited me. "Perhaps the legendary quest of Finding the Lost Sock," I mused, chuckling to myself. "Or the perilous journey to the deepest, darkest corner of the bakery for the fabled Last Croissant."
Whatever lay ahead, I was ready. After all, every great story had to start somewhere, and if mine started with herb gathering, so be it. I'd just have to make sure it was the most epic herb gathering Oakenshield had ever seen.